HINCKLEY TOWN’S run of good results continued on Saturday with a winning draw against Stoughton & Thurnby.

Town won the toss and captain Tim Higgins decided to bat. But unfortunately for Hinckley, the first ball of the match saw an awful start, with Matt Craven being caught behind by Dan Stevenson off the bowling of Franklin.

Josh Peel then came to the middle and joined the other opener, Michael Potter. The duo fended off Stoughton’s opening attach of Franklin and Wells for a time, but with the score on 22, Peel was caught at slip off Franklin for 10.

A few overs later and Hinckley were reduced to 41 for 3 when Potter was caught behind off Bradbury for 19. With only 17 overs gone at this stage, Hinckley needed a period of consolidation and Darren Shaw and Raj Sehn provided this.

The two batsmen scored slowly but ensured no further wickets fell for 13 overs until Shaw was out, caught behind by Stevenson off the bowling of Syed.

This brought Tim Higgins to the crease with the score on 76 for 4, and he quickly started to increase the scoring rate.

Hinckley passed the 100 mark in the 35th over and the 150 was passed only six overs later. But after 40 overs, Sehn retired ill when on 34 and was replaced by Callum Wilson, who was out for two.

Hutchings was the eighth man in but he didn’t last long either being caught by Bourne off Wells for nine.

Higgins passed his half century and, together with Ross Clarke, scored very well off the last four overs.

The skipper was the star of the show, scoring 77 not out off just 63 balls. Stoughton started off extremely well and after just five overs were 36 without loss, with Phil Norwell taking the attack to the bowlers.

Higgins introduced the off spin of Paul Fisher to the attack and in his second over, he dismissed Norwell after a good catch by Darren Shaw.

Wigley and Yates batted valiantly to steer Stoughton to 88 for 1 at the halfway stage, but Wigley retired without warning on 35.

Fisher was still bowling brilliantly and finished with figures of 1-19 off 14 overs.

Stoughton were 112 for 1 after 35 overs and needed 110 off the last 15 overs.

This meant scoring at over seven an over but with nine wickets in hand they would have fancied their chances.

But Hinckley's bowlers started to take wickets, with three quick strikes from Raj Sehn.

A couple more wickets followed and Hinckley now knew that their total of 221 was safe.

The Leicester Road team are now virtually assured of their Premier League status and travel to Syston on Saturday looking to finish the season strongly